Hotpoint dishwasher fire leaves family homeless after major house blaze
Devastated couple David and Amanda Hastilow have been forced to move 11 times while workmen made £40,000 repairs
A COUPLE made homeless when a faulty dishwasher destroyed their home say they almost lost their lives in the terrifying ordeal.
David Hastilow and his wife Amanda were forced to move 11 times in six weeks after their appliance caught fire and caused £40,000 worth of damage.
But firefighters say it could have been a lot worse if they had gone to bed before the fire - which ripped through the kitchen in a matter of moments.
In the week Whirlpool admitted millions of potentially faulty tumble dryers are being used in the UK, Mrs Hastilow told The Sun Online: "The fireman told us we were extremely lucky to be alive.
"If we had gone to bed it was more than likely we wouldn't have got up the next day because of how quickly it all happened.
The fireman told us we were extremely lucky to be alive. It really shakes you up.
Mrs Hastilow
"We wouldn't have had time to hear the fire alarm and get out of the house.
"It really shakes you up."
The retired pair, who live in Charlestown, Saint Austell, where hit TV show Poldark is filmed, say the Hotpoint dishwasher DWF32 "blew up" on September 12.
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It was one of the dishwashers made between January 1999 and September 2003, which was identified by Hotpoint as posing a "potential fire risk".
The Hastilows were forced to sleep in their local pub on the first night they were made homeless.
From there they spent weeks living a Travelodge, then a caravan nearby, before finally finding a flat to lay their heads in their own village.
Mr Hastilow, who used to work as a sound engineer for Phil Collins, said: "Normally I put the dishwasher on overnight, but we had a guest staying so it was running in the early evening.
"Next thing I know the fire alarm is going off and there are flames up to the ceiling.
"We called the fire brigade straight away but they got the wrong address and we were out in our pyjamas running after the fire engine for help.
"Luckily we were awake when it happened because we could have died.
"The damage it caused in seconds was just frightening.
"It was such a shock."
Now after three and half months being homeless, Mr and Mrs Hastilow have moved back into their detached home which cost insurers £41,624 to repair.
Mrs Hastilow added: "To have all this upheaval and upset because of Hotpoint is devastating.
"It has affected us a lot, especially being out of our home for so long."
A Cornwall Fire and Rescue spokesman at the time said: "On arrival there was found to be a fire in the ground floor kitchen of a two storey building.
To have all this upheaval and upset because of Hotpoint is devastating.
Mrs Hastilow
"Crews used breathing apparatus, a hose reel jet and a positive pressure ventilation fan to ventilate the property.
"The Ambulance Service also attended to treat one person for smoke inhalation. These are all the details available for this incident."
In 2013 Hotpoint DWF3 and DC26 Dishwashers were recalled. A statement said: "An electrical component in the dishwasher models listed may fail, leading to overheating and the possibility of the appliance catching fire."
Yesterday, Whirlpool has backtracked on its advice to customers with potentially dangerous tumble dryers.
More than 15 months after Whirlpool first issued safety warning for faulty dryers under the Indesit, Hotpoint, Creda and Proline brand names, it has now changed its guidance to tell customers they SHOULD NOT use the appliance until after it has been fixed.
More than 2.5million households in the UK may still have a faulty tumble dryer in their home.
Whirlpool has been contacted for comment about the Hastilow's hotpoint dishwasher.
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